Horseradish In Hempstead
Nassau News Staff Writer
Horseradish is a ground-up root that makes a very spicy condiment. Gold's Pure Food Products is the company that has brought horseradish to Hempstead in 1993. The company is a fifth-generation family owned business that shows no signs of leaving Hempstead. Nassau News follows the story.
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Horseradish was a main guest on many Jewish family tables during Passover. But before the horseradish was served, or even shipped, it was likely ground up and packaged in Hempstead by Gold's Pure Food Products, a local company that geared up for the Jewish holiday weeks ahead of time.
Neil Gold, the current owner of Gold’s Pure Food Products, talked with Nassau News about the company’s history and the preparation for the Passover holiday. (You can view the whole interview and read the transcript here.) Neil explained the process and the shipping schedule for horseradish.
Gold’s has been pumping out horseradish for over 70 years, spending the most recent 15 years in Hempstead. All those years have made Gold’s the No. 1 manufacturer of horseradish in the United States.
Horseradish may seem like just another condiment to you, but its history started in Eastern Europe and has now spreak worldwide. This strangely spicy root is not called horseradish in its original source. In Austria it is called “kren”. I spoke with Arnold Winkler, a native Austrian, who told me about the difference of American horseradish and Austrian “kren”. (You can see the interview or read the transcript here.)
As the bottle of Gold’s horseradish was passed around Passover Seder tables in April, hopefully, the consumers were cautious with the hot condiment. Horseradish can cause some horseradish neophytes quite a surprise. Even though, it may be funny to watch your family member turn red in the face after eating too much horseradish, Dr. Norman Knee, my great uncle and a medical doctor, explained some of the health complications that extremely fresh or large amounts of horseradish may cause. Some problems include swelling of the esophagus and stomach, and even shortness of breath. (You can view the interview and read the transcript here for the full interview.)
Even though Passover is over for the year, Neil Gold and his company do not have time for a break now. Gold’s Pure Food Products makes also makes mustards, sauces and other condiments that keep them busy year around.
Related Links
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For more information on horseradish, check out the following websites:
- Gold's Pure Food Products Website
- Horseradish Facts From Silver Spring Gardens
- Horseradish.org
- Horseradish History and Facts
Horseradish Recipes
Additional media below
The managers at Gold's Pure Food Products. (Courtesy of Long Island Development Corporation)
To view my production memo for this article, click here.
